Avoid Probate Before It's Too Late

Because our clients usually hire us after their hoarding relative has passed, we find that many of the hoarded homes they need us to clear are in probate, usually for one of two reasons:

Because their relative has left no will, no trust, or no legally binding documentation to let the family know who inherits what property or belongings and how the estate will be apportioned.

Such documents might exist somewhere, but because of the state of the home they can’t be located.

The sad fact is that probate cases among hoarders is very high. In addition to the factors listed above, many serious hoarders simply do not have the ability to provide clear instructions on what to do after their passing. Confusion, fear, anger, or other mental states can make it impossible.

Who to Turn To to Avoid Probate

An alarming number of such cases exist and add tremendous cost, anxiety, and stress for the whole family. Who to turn to? Which family member is burdened with this added responsibility? Probate is very expensive and can take a year or more to settle in California courts. Costs can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars to hire a probate attorney, court costs, etc. We have had clients whose relative’s estates have been in probate for more than three years!

If you have a relative who is a hoarder, the best plan is to get prepared. If you’re able to communicate with your hoarding relative, ask them if they have created a will or a trust. Do they know where to find it, and are they willing to let you, or someone else in the family, hang onto it? If not, will they allow you to take photos of the documents they have? If they’re able (or willing) to listen, explain the costs and the difficulties of estate probate.

Remember that you don’t have to handle this alone. Contact an estate attorney for advise on how to prevent probate—this will turn out to be enormously less costly than dealing with probate after the fact. At Clutter&Hoarding Pros, we have worked many times with estate and probate attorneys, helping clients sort through the mess that results when a hoarding relative dies, and we know from experience that it’s much better to be prepared than to try and pick up the pieces afterwards.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If you feel you’re going to have to deal with the hoarded estate of a relative, Contact Us and we'll refer you to estate attorneys that we have worked with, then help you figure out a plan to deal with the estate clearing when it does arise.